CH 17

“Just now, what did you…?”

I couldn’t hold back my surprise at Serena’s words.

That blond boy in the gardens was the brother of the Princess? And the main capture target from the otome game? Seriously?

Well, I mean, I guess he did look familiar…

“I really was surprised when my little brother asked me to express his gratitude to you. I thought perhaps you had realized who he was and were trying to bring him onto your side early, but… you were perfectly oblivious in your meddling, weren’t you?”

“I couldn’t completely remember the Prince’s face just like that… all I knew was that he had to be some sort of nobleman’s son because he was in the castle… but, why exactly the gratitude?”

I tried to remember if I did anything particularly important as Serena smiled at me warmly.

“He’s been talking about finding something that only he can do, thanks to what you told him. My brother has always felt burdened by the comparisons to his brother, the First Prince. That being said, were you really unaware of what you were doing for that boy?”

“No… Well, I mean, it’s only the duty of elders to provide guidance to youngsters, isn’t it?”

“Just how old are you, exactly…?”

Serena giggled at my words. That aside, that boy really was the capture target Prince… Well, I remember what he looks like when he’s grown up, but it’s not exactly as if I can be blamed for not recognizing him straight away as a young boy.

“At any rate, I only did the natural thing to do as an adult, I shouldn’t be thanked for it. It’s an adult’s job to watch over children, right?”

“Fufu… You’re making me like you more and more. How about it? Why not leave your wife and come along with me?”

“Haha, please don’t joke around like that. I am a one woman man.”

“Oh my, is that so? What an appalling shame…”

Despite saying that, Serena didn’t seem to be all that disappointed at all. Well, I understand that she’s not being serious… but, just from the way she talks, it’s easy to see that this girl was not a child in her previous life.

“Since our business is done here, you should return to my daughter. I’m sure neither of us would want to see Laurier worried, would we?”

“That’s true… well, this isn’t the matter I came to discuss, but can I ask you one last thing before I go?”

“Please do.”

“You… even though you know just how the plot of the otome game goes… you’re still going to protect the villainess?”

Serena’s eyes seemed so serious when she asked that question… but, I couldn’t help but laugh at something with such an obvious answer.

“What kind of father wouldn’t wish to protect the happiness of his daughter?”

“No matter what happens?”

“Well, I can’t pretend everything will be easy, but… at the very least, as a father, I will not stand to see my daughter fall into ruin. All I want is for my daughter to be happy, and fall in love with someone who will truly cherish her smile… well, it’s not as if I truly need a reason to watch over her, since we are family after all?”

Listening to that, Serena smiled, satisfied.

“I see… I understand now. Well then, I’m sorry for intruding today, but I do look forward to having a nice long chat again some time.”

“Yeah. I too hope that you will get along well with my daughter from now on.”

“Fufu… That’s a matter of course, since Miss Laurier is so adorable and kind. Ah, that’s right… next time, can you make some sweets for everyone in my family?”

“I don’t mind, however… if you have knowledge of Japan as well, can’t you make some yourself?”

Serena shook her head.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any skill when it comes to that… just because I have this ‘cheat’ of knowledge doesn’t suddenly make me a good cook, although I do have some faith in my ability when it comes to sewing. How about this? In exchange, I’ll make something nice for your wife and Miss Laurier to wear?”

“Well… I suppose that’s fine. Don’t set your expectations too high, though. There’s only so much I can do with the ingredients and tools in this world.”

“The quality of what you made for our tea party last week would be more than enough. Well then, I leave it in your care.”

With those parting words, Serena finally left my room.

What a strange conversation that was… I don’t know much about fashion, so I’d probably be a poor judge of whatever clothes Serena ends up making, but if she’s relying on her knowledge from a previous life then I’m sure the quality will at least be decent.

If I can get good looking dresses for those two adorable people, then a few hours of baking would be a very small price to pay.

And, well… as for what we discussed, it doesn’t seem as if she or her brother will be causing any problems for my family any time soon, so it should be alright to leave it be for the time being.

As I got back to work, thoughts of Sasha and Laurier in elegant and fashionable matching dresses floated through my mind, and I grinned in a way that I’m sure would make any onlooker shiver at the sight, but… as a husband and father, smiling at happy thoughts like that was only a matter of course.